Whether novice or Olympian, everyone’s welcome

Splish splash...

All you need for your first session is your swimwear, a towel, a pair of goggles, and water - to drink. On your first visit, please try to arrive 15 minutes before the session start time. This is so that there is time to complete a brief registration form, for the club's insurance and to introduce you to a few other members who will show you around and let you know what to expect poolside.

Your first session with Northern Wave is free and thereafter either £4.50 or for those earning less than the living wage, which is currently £8.25 per hour, £2.50. As a club run for its members by its members we trust that everyone pays what is appropriate to their circumstances.

Swim England fees

We believe in the safety of our members and safeguarding of our club, so that it is always there as a safe, fun, accessible and inclusive LGBT swimming club. One of the ways that we do this is by registering all members with Swim England. Primarily, this is so that both you and the club are insured should the unexpected happen. Membership of the Swim England is mandatory for all members of the club and is renewable annually (in January).

For 2018 the fee is £15.40.

Standing orders

We believe in Northern Wave being an accessible and inclusive LGBT swimming club in Manchester. One of the ways that we do that is by offering our members a payment option by standing order. So far, around half of regular members have chosen to pay in this way. When you choose to pay in this way it has three main benefits:

You save at least £30 a year, compared to cash payments on the door.

By making a regular payment you help to secure the club’s future, by making a contribution even when you cannot be there.

Payment by standing order means that we avoid having cash in transit, likewise you don’t have to make any last-minute trips to the cash machine before each session.

To begin paying by standing order please contact treasurer@northernwave.org. Please include in the email your name and which nights you wish to set up a standing order for.

After our swim sessions, join us for a drink

Whether it's just to chat and catch up on the week behind us or the week ahead; or even to celebrate a birthday. On Tuesdays and Sundays, we meet up after the session at the Molly House, Richmond Street in Manchester's Gay Village. On Wednesdays, we meet at The Nip & Tipple, 197 Upper Chorlton Road, Chorlton.

Tuesdays 20:00 - 21:00

Moss Side Leisure Centre

Hulme High Street | Moss Side | Manchester | M15 5NN

Located near to Manchester city centre, and just behind ASDA (Hulme/Moss Side), Moss Side Leisure Centre is home to our most popular swim session. The leisure centre is well serviced by public transport and has plenty of free parking, underneath the leisure centre, accessed from Moss Lane East.

On entering the leisure centre you'll find us in the reception area.

Wednesdays 20:00 - 21:00

Hough End Leisure Centre

480 Princess Road | Manchester | M20 1HD

Our session at Hough End, one of Manchester's newest leisure centres, is a women's only session. The leisure centre is well serviced by public transport and has plenty of free parking, in front of the leisure centre, accessed from Princess Road.

On entering the leisure centre, turn to the left and you'll find us at one of the tables in the vending machine area.

This leisure centre has a large changing area of communal unisex changing cubicles and showers. The pool is accessed directly from the communal changing area. Lockers are refundable and take £1 coins, or similar tokens.

Sundays 19:30 - 20:30

Manchester Aquatics Centre

2 Booth Street East | Manchester | M13 9SS

Located on the corner of Oxford Road and Booth Street East, Manchester Aquatics Centre is home to our 50m swim session. The leisure centre is well serviced by public transport. Free parking is available on some of the streets around the leisure centre, or there is paid parking available in the multi-storey car park near to the end of Booth Street East before the junction with Upper Brook Street (A34).

On entering the leisure centre, tell reception that you're there for Northern Wave Swimming Club. Reception will let you through the barriers. You then need to enter the main swimming pool's communal changing area and bear left, following the wall to the end where you will find a set of double doors leading to a stair case. Take the stairs down and pass through the next 3 sets of double doors (one of which may be locked, please use the bell and reception will release the door). You'll find us just at the end of the swimming pool.

This leisure centre has multiple changing facilities with male and female group change located downstairs (next to where we swim), as well as communal unisex changing cubicles (upstairs next to the centre's main pool). Lockers are refundable and take £1 coins, or similar tokens.